It’s hard for any of us to imagine a life without sight or sound. It’s even more difficult to imagine being without both but that’s exactly what Helen Keller dealt with from time she was 19 months old.

In spite of her disabilities, she learned how to communicate and read and write and became famous for her successful efforts. It was this success that drew a variety of people to her. They all wanted to know her and the list consisted of people like Alexander Graham Bell, Anne Sullivan, General Robert E. Lee, and the actor Charlie Chaplin.

Keller was actually connected to General Robert E. Lee as he was a distant relative of her family. Many people don’t realize that Alexander Graham Bell’s wife was deaf. It was because of this that he spent his life working on inventions to help people hear. Those efforts were what connected him and Keller. This was during a time when this type of work was thought of as a fool’s errand. Keller actually was grateful for his work and ended up dedicating her autobiography to him.

One of her most important connections was her tutor, governess and companion, Anne Sullivan. She was able to help Keller communicate in spite of her disabilities. They built their friendship over 50 years of working together and spent most of their time together.

Helen Keller’s success also grabbed the attention of several presidents from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon B. Johnson. She also gained respect from the author Mark Twain who valued her so much that he found a man rich enough to pay for her education.

It was through her connections and her persistence as an advocate for people with disabilities that led her to become a world-famous author and speaker. She faced much criticism for her political views but still overcame opposition from others to make a name for herself and what she stood for.

Regardless of your situation, you can always make powerful connections throughout your life. If you look at people throughout history, you can see how they reached out and helped each other to achieve their success. It’s a proven method to get ahead and make a difference no matter what time period you live in.